There have been many reports that Google is working on developing smart contact lenses which can be used to measure glucose levels for diabetics. There is also a report that Google has a patent pending for a contact lens with a micro camera and sensors embedded on the surface controlled by blinking, which would enable you to take hands-free pictures and could help the blind navigate the everyday obstacles of the world.

“Our dream is to use the latest technology in the miniaturization of electronics to help improve the quality of life for millions of people,” said Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

If they are developing these types of technological advances purely for the purpose of helping people, that is great, but if helping is their true intention, why have they already filed a patent application for packaging of the product? If helping people with diabetes or those who are visually disabled is the purpose behind the development of these lenses, wouldn’t packaging be a minor detail you would save until the product is ready for the market?

Is the world ready for this kind of technology? This particular technology is starting off with the purest of reasons, to help people. However, what if these lenses, particularly the ones with a micro camera,  fall into the wrong hands or get used for the wrong purpose? Imagine in the future, a child is born with vision problems and is given these contacts. What happens when that kid uses them for the wrong thing, perhaps they use the camera feature to take inappropriate pictures? Would they take a child’s eyes away?

There is also the fact that for the lenses that are used to monitor glucose, levels of diabetics will have to be collected somewhere, maybe in an accompanying phone or computer app. The problem with that is information about those who have these lenses is out in the open for anyone to use. Then there will be the question of whether this a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) violation? Could this lead to a new means of identity theft?

Technology to help people is a wonderful thing. However, as inconvenient as it is, I think the shots and small pin pricks should be a reminder to take care of yourself.

Everything that is good will somehow get corrupted. As soon as Google is successful or close to it, then the competitors such as Apple and Microsoft will have to develop and market their own version, which will lead to higher prices and one company undercutting the other in order to improve their bottom line. Pretty soon, they will worry less about helping the customer and more about profitability of the product.

Right now they say these lenses are being developed to help those with diabetes and visual impairments, but what comes next? It is hard enough for parents and instructors to keep kids of their phones and computers. Imagine how bad it will be in the future when cell phone and computer tech is in contact lenses.

I think that technological advances for the right reasons are great, but at some point we have to question “how much is too much?”